Charles Deffarges

Charles is excited to sit on the Shelter Monitoring Committee. A native San Franciscan, he cares deeply about ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors get the care they deserve and need. He has worked across the homeless response system as an outreach worker, a City staffer, and currently as Director of Policy at Episcopal Community Services.  ECS operates hundreds of beds across various models of shelter, providing behavioral health, case management and housing navigation services to guests, with the goal of transitioning them to more permanent housing opportunities. Prior to working at ECS, Charles worked at the COVID Command Center and HSH's shelter-in-place hotel program, and as a member of the SF Homeless Outreach Team. 

"These experiences give me a unique perspective on our City’s shelter system. I learned what it takes to set up and operate an emergency shelter system. With the HOT team, I placed clients at every shelter facility in the City, visiting each on multiple occasions while working with and advocating for my clients. In addition to working across the entirety of our shelter system, my time with the HOT team gave me a perspective on what makes a good shelter experience for our unhoused neighbors."

Charles previously served on the board of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District as well as the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. Additionally, he has volunteered as a hospitality monitor at The Gubbio Project for the past six years.